What is a verruca?
Foot warts (verrucae) are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) of which there are more than 150 different types. However there are generally only 4 main types that affect the feet and each one differs in size, pain, and appearance.
They are non-cancerous and can occur on either weightbearing (where they are often “pushed” into the skin) or non-weightbearing (where they often protrude out from the skin) parts of the foot. Despite popular belief, they do not have “roots” nor do they necessarily have “black dots” which are just dried spots of blood that can appear in verruca tissue. Frequently they are associated with hardening of the skin which can be a cause of discomfort.
Public understanding of viruses has come a long way due to Covid-19, including the acceptance that there is no quick fix for viral infections and that different people experience different severity of symptoms and different treatment effectiveness. This is the same for verrucae and their treatments.
Verruca Treatment In Southam, Warwickshire
There is a wide variety of treatments available for verrucae, but nothing is 100% effective in all cases. At our clinic we take our time to understand our patient’s wants, needs, and expectations so that they have all the appropriate information required to make an informed decision about any treatment option. This includes for parents of any children who present with verrucae. Note that not all treatment options will be suitable for all patients, and that certain corns & skin cancers can look like verrucas and vica versa. So getting a professional diagnosis and suitable treatment plan from all of the options below is very important:
*Tincture of time
*Occlusive taping
Weak acids typically sold over the counter
*Stronger acids
*Verrutop
Imiquimod
*Cryospray
Liquid nitrogen
*Falknor’s needling
*Laser therapy
Electrosurgery / Hyfrecation
Surgical excision
*The starred options are the ones that we currently have available for patients. Very few (if any) are available on the NHS.
How do we contract and prevent verrucas?
It used to be thought that moisture played an important role in the spread of verrucae eg at swimming pools. However we now know that infection occurs when there has been microtrauma to the skin barrier that allows entry of the human papillomavirus (HPV) either from direct contact with viral particles (from another verruca) or indirectly from surfaces such as footwear, flooring, towels etc.
The HPV can survive several months or even years on such surfaces, and there can be an incubation period of 1-20 months before the virus becomes established in skin cells. As such it makes it quite difficult to prevent the spread of verrucae as microtrauma of our skin occurs all the time, especially when we are barefoot.
Whilst there is no real evidence that good foot hygiene can help prevent the spread of verrucae, it makes sense to keep our feet in as good condition as possible through regular washing and drying (including between the toes). Wearing footwear appropriate to the demands placed on our feet is also good advice.
So if you have a verruca that you would like advice on a possible treatment, make an appointment with a clinic that offers a range of treatment options and has high levels of success.
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Had a fantastic day observing in clinic yesterday!
Jonathan AMAZED me with his extensive knowledge, he was very supportive & I learnt so much just in 1 day!
I admire Jonathans determination & drive to help his patients resolve any issues they may have & I hope to follow in his footsteps once I graduate from university.
Thanks again for the opportunity your useful and excellent advice will always remain with me.
Faye 🙂 
Faye Green
Excellent service. The clinic was efficient enough that Jonathan was able to undertake toe surgery on the same day of my first appointment (just minutes after the problem was diagnosed!). The staff were very friendly and informative, and kept me very much at ease during the entire process. I was very appreciative and will be returning if I have any similar problems in the future. Highly recommended!
Joe Miller
- Have been suffering from plantar fasciitis for some time. After treatment and advice from the Foot and Gait Clinic my condition is manageable. Thank you I am now pain free.
Sue Ball
Last night I attended a talk by Jonathan on diabetes. What an amazing resource of knowledge the local NHS has lost by no longer employing him. But thankfully we still have his private practice in Warwickshire and I will be referring all my diabetic patients to find out their level of risk. Thanks Jonathan for a very interesting evening you should do more talks to spread the word about diabetes to other FHPs. Chris Nock
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My problem was immediately identified and expertly treated. The follow up advice has been do-able and effective to undertake at home. Thanks Liz Bones
Liz Bones
Jonathan is great - passionate, knowledgeable and dedicated to getting people’s foot problems sorted.
I had the pleasure of helping him recently with promotion material for a podshealheels and he delivered a superb lecture to a group of patients and professionals. Dave James
- Everything you can think of is available here!
Jane Vaughan
I visited Jonathan with terrible foot pain, he diagnosed it as plantar fasciitis after a full check and I was given sets of exercises to heal my foot, I have just left after my third visit and the pain has all but gone, I found Jonathan and Kate very friendly, would and have recommend to others, Thank you.👣 Paul Fogg
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Very professional and friendly service - solved my foot problems where many others had failed -highly recomended.
John Newbold
They have always been helpful, professional, courteous and caring
John Veasey
- Friendly efficient service. Jonathan is very professional and ensured treatments were booked conveniently and were conducted brilliantly. Solved my verucca after many years of unsuccessful home remedies.
Sarah Wilson
As a foot heath practitioner who has recently attended one of Jonathan’s talks I would refer my patients on to him without reservation should they need specialist input. His lectures are interesting, informative and motivating. I have crossed his path at numerous events where I have listened to him. He instills confidence. Liza Clarke
- Jonathan Small has been treating me for a range of foot and gait problems for a number of
Years including plantar fasciitis, Morton’s neuromas and joint hypermobility. As well as physical
Treatment he has supplied me with various orthotics which have really helped me keep
Mobile and reasonably fit. I am undergoing treatment at the moment and I fully expect that
Jonathan will be as successful as he has been in the past. All the staff at Health First are
Friendly and helpful.
Pam Alexander
I can so recommend this company, their treatments and advice were exemplary and I was made to feel so relaxed and looked after from beginning to end Jackie King
- Thank you Jonathan for inviting me along to your Dynamic & Disasters of The Diabetic Foot seminar and thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge. For anyone who has been diagnosed as diabetic I would urge you to visit Jonathan for a comprehensive diabetic foot assessment. You only have one pair of feet so treat them with respect and they will last a lifetime. I look forward to working with you on our quest to treat and educate on foot health. Kind regards - Debbie Hewitt, Foot Health Practitioner (Rugby)
Debbie Hewitt
I had an issue with an ingrown toenail, which was very painful. Jonathan was a star in performing the nail surgery. My foot is now on the road to recovery and I couldn’t be any happier. Highly recommend coming here with any foot problems!
Angelika Price
- I have received first class treatment and my foot is feeling less painful especially after the
laser treatment I had on it.
Mary Richardson
I've been going to Health First for 10+ years. Both Jonathan and Judy are excellent Foot Doctors with specialisms to help with quirky problems. The reception staff have always been lovely. I have the wax treatment which is both relaxing and really helps my feet
Maria Lucas
- Jonathan is an inspirational Podiatrist.
Having attended several courses that have been run by Jonathan and having been lucky enough to have heard him speak at multiple professional events, my knowledge has increased dramatically, as has my love for Podiatry.
A true gentleman and a fabulous educator.
Sarah Byrne
A caring and professional service backed up by experience. I had tried every over the counter cure and a few dodgy ones from the internet for my persistent verucca with no luck. Jonathan brought all of his extensive knowledge to bear and now it is gone. I felt confident that my best interests were at the heart of any treatments and that I was in safe, professional hands at all times. Highly recommended. Evelyn Baxter